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Tag: Vinit Thakkar

  • Sony strikes the right chord with THG to amplify India’s global music pitch

    Sony strikes the right chord with THG to amplify India’s global music pitch

    MUMBAI: India’s musical ambitions just got a global mic check. In a pitch-perfect move set to reshape India’s live music industry, Sony Music India has teamed up with Los Angeles-based entertainment heavyweight The Hello Group (THG) to launch THG India, a joint venture that promises to give Indian artists a global stage and the backing to own it.

    Billed as the first international collaboration of this scale for Sony Music India, THG India blends the local label’s deep industry roots with THG’s international clout in live touring, publishing, and artist development. Based out of Mumbai, the new entity aims to provide a complete support system from artist management to worldwide bookings to help Indian talent break into international circuits without missing a beat.

    “This is more than a business deal, it’s a bridge for Indian music to go global,” said Sony Music India managing director Vinit Thakkar. “With THG’s unmatched touring network and our homegrown muscle, we’re unlocking a future where Indian artists can thrive not just locally, but on the world’s biggest stages.”

    From Bts and Enhypen to The Chainsmokers and Twice, THG’s publishing and tour booking legacy is packed with platinum plaques and packed stadiums. THG India now aims to channel that pedigree into India’s booming music scene, which has seen a surge in independent acts and a hungry live-event audience post-pandemic.

    “The talent in India is phenomenal and the world is listening,” added The Hello Group CEO Taylor Jones. “THG India will ensure they’re heard. With a team on the ground and decades of experience behind us, we’re here to make Indian music truly borderless.”

    As live music becomes a serious economic engine for the Indian entertainment industry, the joint venture directly addresses one of its most glaring gaps sophisticated infrastructure for touring and artist development. Backed by Sony’s investment and creative ecosystem, THG India is poised to become the launchpad for the country’s next wave of breakout stars.

    With names like Steve Aoki, I.M of MONSTA X, and Kang Daniel already on its international roster, The Hello Group brings proven star power to the partnership. And for Indian artists who until now have struggled to convert local fandom into global visibility this could be the stage door they’ve been waiting for.

    In a world where music travels faster than ever, THG India is putting Indian artists on the global tour bus no passport needed, just pure talent and the right push.

  • Sony Music Entertainment India and Maddock Films announce strategic partnership

    Sony Music Entertainment India and Maddock Films announce strategic partnership

    Mumbai – Sony Music Entertainment India and Maddock Films have announced a new and broad strategic collaboration in India’s entertainment industry. This partnership unites the two companies with the goal of producing music projects, encompassing film soundtracks and independent pop projects featuring A-list Indian talent.

    Several high-profile projects anchor this alliance, including soundtracks for the upcoming Hindi film “Chhava” starring Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna with music by A.R. Rahman, the drama “Diler” featuring Ibrahim Ali Khan, and “Ikkis” starring Agastya Nanda with music by Sachin-Jigar. In addition, the soundtracks for “Luka Chhupi 2,” “Sector 36” starring Vikrant Massey, “Sarvagunn Sampan” featuring Vaani Kapoor, and “Rumi Ki Sharafat” starring Radhika Madan will be part of this collaboration.

    Sony Music Entertainment India managing director Vinit Thakkar said, “This collaboration embodies our vision of creating innovative avenues for our artists to connect with audiences. Film and music are powerful storytelling mediums, and by combining our musical expertise with Maddock Films’ cinematic vision, we are confident in delivering impactful and unforgettable experiences.”
    Maddock Films founder Dinesh Vijan echoed the sentiment, adding, “Both Sony Music Entertainment India and Maddock Films have a proven track record of creating chart-topping hits, making this our most significant music collaboration to date. Over the next two years, we are committed to building the industry’s most dynamic and successful music partnership.

  • Sony Music Entertainment & D36 announce joint venture to propel South Asian music globally

    Sony Music Entertainment & D36 announce joint venture to propel South Asian music globally

    Mumbai: Sony Music Entertainment (SME) announces a global joint venture with Los Angeles-based record label D36. D36 is a Los Angeles-based company formed in 2021 that provides a platform to aspiring musicians from South Asia and its diaspora. Most recently, D36 released a remix of Pakistani indie act AUR’s breakout hit “Tu Hai Kahan” (feat. ZAYN), which now has over 400 million plays and counting across all streaming platforms between the original song and remix.  

    The global joint venture will allow SME and D36 to combine the strengths of both companies, fostering collaborations between artists, expanding the reach of South Asian artists in the US as well as help break South Asian diaspora artists in key markets outside the US. The new partnership will enable acts of South Asian heritage to cultivate a worldwide fanbase, better connect diasporic audiences with talent in South Asia and accelerate the community’s visibility in international markets, including in America.

    “Our collaboration with D36 goes beyond showcasing South Asian artists globally. We’re forging a new path in cultural exchange, fostering a deeper connection between artists and their heritage,” said Sony Music Entertainment Asia and Middle East president Shridhar Subramaniam. “The South Asian music scene is experiencing a surge in global recognition, fueled by a rising demand for diverse musical experiences. D36 boasts a proven track record of identifying and nurturing exceptional South Asian talent and by partnering with them, we can serve as a crucial bridge, connecting these talented artists with the global opportunities they deserve, further enriching the tapestry of international music.”

    “Our community – globally – is home to some of the most unique, exciting, and innovative music in the world” shared D36 CEO Abhi Kanakadandila. “This new partnership with Sony Music Entertainment allows us to meaningfully support artistry agnostic of geography and provide an infrastructure that can operate seamlessly across borders. The talent & fandom that exists across the several new waves of South Asian music is enormous. Our goal here is to lay the foundation for the same success that we’ve seen with music from other territories on the global landscape.”

    Kanakadandila’s leadership of the new venture will be aided by D36’s general manager and co-founder Abdullah Ahmad, whose expertise involves shepherding the careers of Young Thug to Kevin Gates and Jelani Aryeh prior to his tenure at D36. Ahmad has been critical to realizing D36’s key successes to date and will work hand in hand with Kanakadandila to expand upon those by utilizing the new infrastructure that this partnership affords.

    Sony Music Entertainment India MD Vinit Thakkar added, “The South Asian music market is fast establishing itself as a powerhouse within the global music industry. With our deep understanding of the local music landscape and our market strength, this partnership positions us to not only empower local artists but also bridge the gap between their exceptional talent and a worldwide audience.”

  • “We focus on digital to promote non-film music” – Vinit Thakkar

    “We focus on digital to promote non-film music” – Vinit Thakkar

    EMI Records India recently launched its own unique platform VYRL Originals which completed six months on 12 July. Every month, a single was released with the latest being Aaya Na Tu by Arjun Kanungo and Momina Mustehsan.

    EMI Records India was launched in May 2015 by Universal Music Group in collaboration with film director Mohit Suri. This venture marked the return of the iconic EMI label to India, which developed a new platform to promote non-film music.

    Indiantelevision.com spoke to Vinit Thakkar, the senior vice president, Universal Music Group India & South Asia about the idea behind launching VYRL Originals, challenges they faced and their marketing and promotional strategies.

    What is the main idea behind launching VYRL Originals?

    The idea behind launching VYRL Originals was to create a unique platform to promote non-film music. Through this unique platform we have been releasing one brand new song every month which launches simultaneously across all platforms- digital, TV and radio. The property launched on 12 January 2018.

    What kind of mentorship or support does VYRL Originals provide to the debut artists?

    I believe that our partner, Mohit Suri is one of our biggest strengths. Up until May, most of the artists we’ve worked with have been newcomers. He’s been a great mentor to all the artists who have created content for VYRL Originals. Right from the composers, lyricists to the singers, each of them have been carefully worked on and handpicked by the director himself. Also, all the technical infrastructure and support that is required for an artist to create world-class content is provided by EMI records India.

    What are the challenges you faced in the music industry and how did you overcome it?

    We started EMI Records India almost three years ago when there wasn’t as much non-film music being released. Very few non-film songs actually made it to the mainstream commercial charts across platforms. Traditional mediums like television and radio were also giving preferential treatment to Bollywood music. So one of the biggest challenges we have faced so far is to reach a larger set of audience in India.

    But thankfully with a lot of support from audio streaming platforms and our exclusive partner Fever FM for VYRL Originals, we have been able to reach out to a wide audience. Effective use of social media platforms has also helped us a lot.

    What are EMI’s promotional and marketing strategies to stand out of the crowd?

    Every song has a different story to be told. We do a complete integrated marketing campaign. Our main focus is digital as we believe that our target audience is active on digital platforms and it’s really important to reach out to today’s youth who use these platforms to discover new content. This is followed by television and radio promotions. We also engage with a lot of influencers who help us create a buzz around the song and the artist.

     What is the cost of releasing one single?

    It is difficult to put a number to it as there are many elements involved in putting together a single. There are several costs attached, right from the audio to the visuals to the marketing and promotional spends.

    How do you keep a track of the song being played overseas?

    We are a global company with a global footprint. All our content is deployed through a global supply chain and that helps us with all the information that is needed with regards to the content.

  • Universal Music India promotes Vinit Thakkar as SVP

    MUMBAI: Universal Music India has announced that Vinit Thakkar has been promoted to senior vice president, Universal Music India. Universal Music India is part of Universal Music Group, the world leader in music-based entertainment.

    Currently Head of Digital, Licensing and New Business in India, Thakkar’s new position will see him take a greater role in the operations of Universal Music Group’s Indian and South Asian business across Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. Reporting to Devraj Sanyal, Managing Director and CEO, Universal Music Group South Asia, Thakkar will be based in Mumbai.

    The new role will see Thakkar head up iconic label EMI Records India, a sub label of Universal Music Group in association with leading Bollywood film director Mohit Suri. The label acts as a platform for discovering, nurturing and breaking talent into the world of Bollywood film music.

    Of the promotion, Sanyal said: “I am thrilled to be promoting an executive of Vinit Thakkar’s stature and ability, his contribution over the last four years on both strategic and operational fronts has been extraordinary”.

    Thakkar comments: “I am delighted to be working alongside Devraj, whose vision for our region has no bounds and we look forward to further developing strategies with our brilliant team. India ranks highly amongst the world’s most creative and musically vibrant markets and with UMG’s global support, the coming years will be a thrilling ride.”

    Prior to joining UMG, Thakkar was Senior General Manager at Sony Music, handling P&L responsibility across Digital, Licensing and Publishing businesses. He previously worked with Titan and Citibank within their Sales and Marketing divisions.

  • Universal Music appoints Vinit Thakkar as head of digital

    Universal Music appoints Vinit Thakkar as head of digital

    MUMBAI: Universal Music has appointed Vinit Thakkar as the new head of digital for its business in India.

    Thakkar‘s role as Digital Head of Universal Music will entail consolidating and growing Universal’s Digital business in India and SAARC.

    Prior to joining Universal, Thakkar was with Sony Music as Sr. General Manager handling the P&L responsibility across Digital, Licensing & Publishing businesses.

    Universal Music India and SAARC MD Devraj Sanyal said, “The digital business for UMGI is one of the most critical parts of the music business and I am very pleased to welcome Vinit to the team. Vinit brings with him an exceptionally great & relevant background to the table with his years at Sony, Citi & Titan. I have no doubt in my mind that Vinit will take Universal Music and all its allied future businesses to the next level.”

    Thakkar has also worked with companies like Titan and Citibank in sales & marketing functions.

    Thakkar said, “At such a pivotal time for music, where the digital landscape is undergoing a sea change, it’s more important than ever to fully exploit the many opportunities that new digital services and products provide in reaching audiences around the world. I look forward to this new challenge and I am extremely confident of building a robust digital business at Universal Music."